2 Corinthians 5:1-5 (WEL) For we know that if our earthly house, our tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. 2 In this house, we are groaning, deeply longing to be clothed with our house which is from heaven. 3 So if being clothed, we will not be found naked. 4 For we who are still in this tent are groaning, being burdened, not because we want to be unclothed, but to be clothed instead, so that what is dying may be swallowed up by life. 5 Now, he who prepared us for this very thing is God, who has also given to us the down payment of the Spirit.
Chapter summary:
Adam Clarke: “The apostle’s strong hope of eternal glory, and earnest longings after that state of blessedness, 2 Corinthians 5:1-4. The assurance that he had of it from the Holy Spirit, and his carefulness to be always found pleasing to the Lord, 2 Corinthians 5:5-9. All must appear before the judgment seat of Christ, 2 Corinthians. Knowing that this awful event must take place, he labored to convince men of the necessity of being prepared to meet the Lord, being influenced to this work by his love of Christ, 2 Corinthians. Jesus Christ having died for all, is a proof that all were dead, 2 Corinthians. Those for whom he died should live to him, 2 Corinthians. We should know no man after the flesh, 2 Corinthians They who are in Christ are new creatures, 2 Corinthians. The glorious ministry of reconciliation, 2 Corinthians.”
V1 For we know that if our earthly house, our tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.
The house made of earth, the tent, is our physical body. The real person is the soul and spirit. If this earthly body is destroyed by death, then God gives us another covering.
Adam’s earthly body was made by the hands of God (Genesis 2:7). The eternal body is like the body of the physically risen Lord Jesus.
There is great assurance for believers in this promise of God.
V2 In this house, we are groaning, deeply longing to be clothed with our house which is from heaven.
Since we know about the new body, we long for it to happen. We are to take care of our earthly body the best we can.
We must:
- Glorify God in our body by doing His will—1 Corinthians 6:19-20
- Sin defiles the earthly body God gave us—1 Corinthians 3:16
- Our body is to be one of our spiritual sacrifices—Romans 12:1-2
- Avoid sexual immorality—1 Thessalonians 4:3
V3 So if being clothed, we will not be found naked.
This is one of the verses (even this passage) proving a physical resurrection and those resurrected having a body. There are no disembodied spirits; it is a wrong belief.
Compare:
Moses and Elijah on the Mount of Transfiguration (Matthew 17:1-3)
The martyred dead in heaven (Revelation 6:9-11 and Revelation 7:13-17)
(Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible) “The body of flesh is a heavy burden, the calamities of life are a heavy load. But believers groan, being burdened with a body of sin, and because of the many corruptions remaining and raging within them. Death will strip us of the clothing of flesh, and all the comforts of life, as well as end all our troubles here below. But believing souls shall be clothed with garments of praise, with robes of righteousness and glory.”
V4 For we who are still in this tent are groaning, being burdened, not because we want to be unclothed, but to be clothed instead, so that what is dying may be swallowed up by life.
All believers look forward to our new body. It is promised by God, and we believe Him.
David Guzik notes: “Many of us are not earnestly desiring heaven. Is it because we are so comfortable on earth? It isn’t that we should seek out affliction, but neither should we dedicate our lives to the pursuit of comfort. There is nothing wrong with earnestly desiring heaven; there is something right about being able to agree with Paul, and saying “we groan.”
Lenski writes, “We are not Stoics; we feel the burden and we groan; not because we are cowards and just want to escape our burden, but because we want to put on the heavenly life. So both the groaning and the longing mentioned in v. 2 are further elucidated.”
V5 Now, he who prepared us for this very thing is God, who has also given to us the down payment of the Spirit.
This new body was a part of God’s blueprint for creation and all in it. God has prepared us for this new body by His promise. Jesus rose, so we will rise. Jesus had a body, a new body different from the body He died in, so it is for us, too.
The Holy Spirit indwells every believer in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. See Romans 8:11, Ephesians 1:13-14, and Ephesians 4:30.
We learn:
• God plans for us believers to have a new body when we die.
• God has promised us a new body.
Questions:
• Do you long for your new body?
• Do you long for heaven?